Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases

MT Lin, MF Beal - Nature, 2006 - nature.com
MT Lin, MF Beal
Nature, 2006nature.com
Many lines of evidence suggest that mitochondria have a central role in ageing-related
neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondria are critical regulators of cell death, a key feature
of neurodegeneration. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA and oxidative stress both contribute
to ageing, which is the greatest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. In all major
examples of these diseases there is strong evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction occurs
early and acts causally in disease pathogenesis. Moreover, an impressive number of …
Abstract
Many lines of evidence suggest that mitochondria have a central role in ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondria are critical regulators of cell death, a key feature of neurodegeneration. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA and oxidative stress both contribute to ageing, which is the greatest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. In all major examples of these diseases there is strong evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction occurs early and acts causally in disease pathogenesis. Moreover, an impressive number of disease-specific proteins interact with mitochondria. Thus, therapies targeting basic mitochondrial processes, such as energy metabolism or free-radical generation, or specific interactions of disease-related proteins with mitochondria, hold great promise.
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